Media release – Health and Community Services Union, 20 July 2023
Government failure on mental health forces CAMHS workers to industrial action
Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) workers in the north west have today resolved to take industrial action in response to the government’s continued failure to address the ongoing resourcing crisis in mental health.
Workers intend to write to the Secretary of Health to notify her that they will take matters into their own hands should the government fail, again, to respond to the dire need for relief.
It has been impossible to fill critical allied health and nursing roles in north west mental health services for years now whilst demand has skyrocketed, leaving workers expected to support more vulnerable young people with fewer resources to do lifesaving work.
The result has been that children and young people in the north west have faced blown out waiting times for mental health interventions, adding to stress for the young people and their families.
Workers feel that continuing in the service is almost unbearable with the knowledge of how many people are left to wait and acute awareness of how dire the consequences of a forced wait may be.
Quotes attributable to HACSU Assistant State Secretary Lucas Digney
“Community mental health workers had to cope with unfilled positions for years. We have had enough of hanging on and waiting for this service to be fully resourced. The government have no plan and there’s no relief on the horizon. That has to change now.”
“HACSU members who work in this service cannot in good conscience continue wear the risk of dealing with an under resourced mental health service which presents significant risk to the community, and to themselves.”
“Any action considered by health workers is not taken lightly. The risk to patients, and to workers, is too great. Something tangible has to be done – and done now.”
“It is unacceptable that the Department have let it come to this. Tasmanians deserve better, especially those who are trying to get help for mental health issues.”
“It should not be left to health workers to tell the community about what’s actually happening to their health services; the Department can and should do better in advising the community about the deficiencies and changes to services.”
